Load-transferring device



July 6 1926.

A F. cALLlsoN LOAD TRANSFERRING DEVICE Filed Deo. 50, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 l@ IIIII July 6 1926. l 1,591,656

A. F. CALLISON LOAD TRANSFEHRING DEVICE Filed Deo. 50. 1924 Sheets-Sheet 2 .Sw SM m mi Q u@ n ww Sx Sw M. :RN i 30W n s O v c O O Mk MR VQ ww Sw f Q T |\I|Mw |11 SY :www MM ww e. e E m g L -L n @NM1 www I m. w. w SRR mw ||r||k| lllllllllllllllllllllll I|. .ww w W 1T-,

nvEy-rom Ame/FWZ@ A. F. CALLISON LOAD TRANSFERRING DEVICE lJuly 6 1926.

Filed Dec. 50, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR j'alZwcw,

ATTQRN SY Patented July 6, 1926.

UNITED STATES raarste ABNER F. CALLISON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

LOAD-TRANSFERRING BEVCE.

Application led December 30, 1924.

This invention relates to a load transferring device, especially adapted to handle large merchandise containers, with particular reference to their useA for freight shipments. These containers may be of such size that one of them constitutes a complete load for a large truck, and three of them constitute a. load for a railroad lat car. When bcX cars are used, however, the containers will be one half as large, their size being limited only by the side door of the car.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide a device which may be operated automatically to lift a container clear of the truck as the latter is backed up to the warel'iouse platform, or to load a. container onto the truck as 'the latter is driven away from the platform.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device on which a container may be supported and transported laterally to and from the. stall, where it is transferred to and from the truck, and which may also be used as a bridge between two platforms.

The objects and advantages of the invention will be more fully explained in the following detailed description, which .is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating one practical embodiment of the. invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device. Figure 2 is a front elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a transverse section through a portion of the device.

Figure 4t is a plan view of the device.

Figure 5 is a vertical section, showing the latch mechanism in detail.

Figure 6 is a horizontal section of the parts shown in Figure 5.

The invention comprises a low rectangular carriage, having at each side a pair of longitudinally extending angle bars 10 secured at their front and rear ends to truck frames 11, each of which is supported by a pair of small flanged wheels or rollers 12. i The truck frames 11 are connected transversely by flat steelbars 13, which are close to the pavement, and may be intermediately supported by rollers 14 which track with the respective wheels`12. The wheels 12 are adapted to ride ontracks 16 which are embedded i in the pavement, and extend transversely in front of the warehouse platform 17. A pair of guide bars 18 are secured to the pavement extend perpentlilllerly t0 the @este .1@

Serial No. 758,852.

and to the front edge of the platform, and are spaced apart a suitable distance to form guides for alining the wheels 19 of the truck when the latter is backed up for the loading or unloading operation. It is preferred to curve the front ends of the guide bars inwardly, as shown at 20, in order to facilitate the proper alinement of the truck wheels. Portions of the guide bars ,18 are cut away, as at 21, to form a passageway, which may be traversed by the front bar 13 of the carriage.

A plurality of parallel links 22 are pivoted at their lower ends, asrshown at 23, between each pair of angle bars 10, and are pivotally connected at their upper ends, as shown at 24:, between pairs of angle bars 25, which are arranged above the respective angle bars 10 and parallel thereto. Rails 26 are supported by the angle bars 25 in proper position to receive the wheels 27 of the merchandise container 27a as the latter is lifted from the truck. It is to be understood that the links 22, on opposite sides of the carriage, are spaced apart a suilicient distance so as to receive the truck wheels 1S) between them, as shown in Figure 2, as the truck is backed up to the platform, the wheels 19 being alined by the guide bars 18. The container 27a is carried by the truck with its wheels 27 overhanging the sides thereof in position to be engaged by the rails 26, when the latter are raised.

The links 22 at the front and rear ends of the carriage are provided with braces 28, which are secured, as at 29, to the upper portions of the links, and have their lower ends pivoted, as at 30, to angle bars 31, which are secured to the truck frame 11. This insures the swinging of the links 22 in a vertical plane, and prevents the possibility of the rails 26 spreading when subjected to a heavy load.

A block 32 is secured to the rear end of one'of the angle bars 25 at each side of the carriage, and has a passageway 33 extending rearwardly and upwardly therethrough which slidably receives the upper end of a latch bar 34, the lower end of which is curved outwardly and pivoted, as at 35, between the front ends of the angle bars 10. Ribs 3G project inwardly from opposite sides of the passageway 33, and are engaged by stop pins 37 secured transversely of the upper end `of the latch bar to limit the rearverd, novelties@ @t the rails .26, 'Ine p sageway 33 has a recess 38 adapted to receive the upper end of the latch bar Se when the rails QG have been swung upwa diy, and to latch the same in that position. A release .rod 39 is located benea h the upper of the latch bar 34, and its upper end is slidably mounted in a keeper Ll() formed on the underside ot the blocl and carries aV head Lll which is adapted, under certain conditions, to engage and litt the upper end of the latch bar 3i; out o1 the recess 3S, as to permit the rails 2 to .Giving` forwardly to the position shown in dotted lines Figure l. The lower end ot the rod 3Q re- '.ntly support by a spring 39., and ejuided in an arm il?. secured to and extending` rearwardly from a bar e3, which extends transversely. 'torn'ied its entes with trunnions 4 iournaled in the rearinozft links A lever is secured cei L lv of the har and extends iforivaidly and is provided with a downwar v end 46, adapted' to he engaged by the rear axle ol the truck as the latter is backed up to the platter-ni. rEhe lever l5 is thus depressed into the position shown in dotted lines in Figure l to littthe latch bar 3ft to release position. Stop pins 4t? are mounted in the blocks 32 in position to be engaged by the rear end of the container' w ien the loaded truck is bacled up into the stall. Blocks t8 are secured to the liront ends ot the rails 26, and are engafreahle by the liront wheels of the container as t e latter is inovd forwardly in the process ot transferring itto the truck.

In unloading the container from the truck, the carriage is moved along-g the tracks lo into proper posit-ion with respect to the ,guide rods 18, and the loaded truck is then backed up to the platform, the .wheels l5) ot the' truck being brought into alineinent, as shown in Figure 2. As the truck is being liiacked up, the rails 2 and the linlts 22 ny which they are supported are in lowered position, with the blocks resti against ahutments Lt9 on the bars 3l, as shown in dotted lines in Figure l, so that the overhanging wheels 27 ot the container are cerried clear ot the trac is unt-il. the rear end oit' the container comes into engagement with the stop pins As the truck continues to move rearwardly, the engagement ot the container with the stop pins 4.1"," causes the rails 2G to swing upwardly into engagementwith the wheels 2.7, and to litt the container clear of the truck. The containers are coupled to the truck in such a manneras to prevent their horizontal nioven'ient witlr respect to the truck but to permit them to be raised. A preferred form ot couplingI dci/'ice is descrih d. and. claimed in a copending application Serial Nofltiled oi e-vcn datel erewith. 22 continues until they are swungto verwardly Tlf he rearwardmovement of the links 2 tical osition, or sliajhtly past the same,

when the pins o upper end ol the latch bar ill-C eng bs 3G and choc; this movement. t is time, the container is entirely clear ot the truck. and the latter, sii-'ter beingl uncoupled, may he driven away, leaving the container on the carriage. lVhen the links 22 reach their rearmost position, the axle ot the t .ck has depressed the lever "tung the rod 39, and holding the latch inst the upper side ot the passageway lne enormous weight of the container, however, will prevent it from swinging lorthe truck is dri-ven away, and :is soon as the axle leaves the lever 45, the rot. 39 will drop down and permit the upper end ot the latch to drop into the recess 3S and loch the tracks L6 in their uppermost position. By removing the stop pins el?, the cont incr may now he immediat-ely rolled onto the platform 1T, or the carriage may he moved along the tracks 16 to some other part of the warehouse, or it may he moved into position for the container to be loaded onto the car. fr winch and motor, or other suit able i'iiieans, may be used -t'or movido` the earriage to the desired position.

ln loading a container onto the truck, the latter is backed underneath the carriage with the container carried by the rails Q6. rlhe engagement ot' the truck axle with the lever Ll5 raises the latch bar 34 to permit the rails Q6 to swing forwardly. The container is now coupled to the chassis ot the truck. As the truck is now driven forwardly, the wheels ot the container engage the blocks liti, and the rails 26 swing downwardly to he position shown in dotted lines in Figure l, so that the container is 'tree of the carriage, and is carried by the chassis ot' the trucl.

llhile I have described the operation ot the device in connection with a single container, it is apparent that the saine method of operation may be used for loading or unloading two containers, when they are so constructed that two constitute a truck load. It is also apparent that the same device, when the rails 2G are raised, may be used as a bridge for transferring' a container l'roxn the platform l? to another platform on the other side ot the tracks 16. lt is also apparent that many modifications may be )nado in the details ont construction and in the relative arrangement o't' the various elcments without departing from the salient teatures ot the invention. It is, therefore, inv desire to include all such modihcations within the scope ot the appended claims.

That is claimed is: i

l.. ln a load4 handling device, the combination with a truck, of a container adapted to be carried thereby. wheels journaled at the opposite sides, of the CQIltainer near the bottoni thereotl and' normally disposed in co :s

Fil

longitudinal planes beyond the' sides land wheels of the truck, a rectangular carriage `having[longitudinal bars rigidly held inl spaced relation and adapted to receive the truck between them, parallel links pivotally supported on the longitudinal bars, rails carried by the links and spaced apart laterally the same distance as the wheels on opposite sides of theV container, and means engageable by the container on the truck, as the latter moves rearwardly between said longitudinal bars, to swing the links and rails carried thereby upwardly Vand rearwardly underneath the Wheels of the container to lift the latter from the truck.

2. 1n a load handling,- device, the combination with a truck, of a container adapted to be carried thereby, wheels journaled at the opposite sides of the container near the bottom thereof and normally disposed in longitudinal planes beyond the sides and wheels of the truck, a rectangular carriage having longitudinal bars spaced apart so as to receive the truck between them, transverse bars connecting the longitudinal bars, the front transverse bar being flat and adjacent the ground so that the wheels of the truck may easily pass over it, parallel links pivotally connected to thek longitudinal bars so as to swing in vertical longitudinal planes, rails ,carried by the links and spaced apart laterally the same distance as the wheels on opposite sides of the container, and stops at the rear ends of the rails engageable by the container on the truck, as the latter moves rearwardly between said longitudinal bars, to swing the links and rails carried thereby upwardly and rearwardly underneath the wheels of the container to lift the latter from the truck.

3. In a load transferring device, the com'- bination of va carriage having longitudinal bars rigidly held in spaced relation and I adapted to receive a truck between them,

guide bars for alining the truck wheels parallel to said longitudinal bars as the truck is backed in between them, parallel links pivoted on said bars and carryingrails, means engageable by the load on thetruck as the latter moves rearwardly between said longitudinal bars to swing the links and rails carried thereby upwardly and rearwardly, and thereby raise the load, and wheels disposed in transverse vertical planes and supporting the carriage so that the latter may be shifted laterally.

l. In a load transferring device, the combination of a carriage having parallel longitudinal bars held in spaced relation so as to receive a truck between them, parallel links pivoted to each of the bars, rails carried by the links, a latch bar pivoted near the front end of each of said longitudinal bars and extending upwardly and rearwerden Meek Secured. to 'each rail and.-

Vreceiving the" rearV porti-on` of the latch bar, and means carried by the bar and engageable with tlie block to positively limit the rearward inovei'nent :of the rail, said block having a recess into lwhich the upper end of the latch may drop, when the rail is swung rearwardly, to prevent a return movement thereof. Y y

5. ln a load transferring device, a carriage having parallel longitudinal bars held in spaced relation so as to receive a truck between them, parallel'links pivoted to each of the bars, rails carried by the links, latch bars pivoted near the front ends of the respective longitudinal bars and extending upwardly and rearwardly` blocks secured to the rear ends of the rails and having pas-v sageways for receiving the rear portions of y the respective latch bars, and means engageable by the load on the truckas the latter moves rearwardly between said longitudinal bars to swing the links andvrails carried thereby upwardly and rearwardly and thereby aise the load, each of said blocks having a recess into whichthe upper end of the cor-V responding latch may drop, when the rails are swung rearwardly, to prevent a return movement thereof.

6. ln a lead transferring device, the combination of a carriage having longitudinal bars held in spaced relation so as to receivea truck between them, parallel links pivoted to each of the bars. rails carried by the links, means engageable by the load on the truck as the ylatter moves rearwardly between said longitudinal bars to swing the links and rails carried thereby upwardly and rearwardly and thereby raise the load, latch bars pivoted near the front ends of'said longitudinal bars and extending upwardly andl rearwardly, means cooperating with the latch bars for limiting the rearward move ment of the rails and for preventing a re# turn movement thereof after the. truck has been withdrawn.

7. In a load transferring device, the com` bination of a carriage having longitudinal bars held in spaced relation so as to receivel a truck between them, links pivoted to each of the bars, rails carried by the links, latch bars pivoted to the carriage and extending upwardly and rearwardly, blocks secured to the rails and having recesses into which the upper ends of the latch-es may drop, when the rails are swung rearwardly, to prevent a return movement thereof, and means engageable by the axle of the truck, as the latter is backed beneath a load carried on said rails, to raise the latches out of the recesses and permit the rails to swing forwardly with the load as the truck is driven forwardly.

S. In a load transferring device, the combination of a carriage having longitudinal bars held in spaced relation so as lt-o receive a truck between than, a pair of rails surf ported alcove the' hars sol as to he swung np Wardly and rearwardly by a parallel motion, latch bars pivoted to the carriage and extending' upwardly and rearnardll-J7 blocks secured to the rear ends et the rails and having recesses into which the latches inay drop, when the rails are swung upwardly, to prevent ay return movement thereof, a transverse har mount-ed for rocking movement und having a. forwardly projecting` lever with a den'nturned end engageahle hy the axle et the truck, as it is hacked between the longitudinal hars et the carriage, to roclr seid transverse bar, and means connected with the transverse bar and lifted hy its rocking' movement, to raise the upper ends ot the latch bers out ot' the recesses and permit the reils to swing ,torivardlv Willi the load as the truck is driven forwardly.

9. In a load transterrin,9)` device', a earring-je having longitudinal bars held in spaced relation so as to receive a truck hetvveen thein? gnide 1oars for alining` the truck Wheels parallel to said longitudinal bars as the truck is backed inI hetnf'een them, parallel links pivoted to each ot the bars, rails ceirried hy the links, latch hars pivoted to the carriage and extending;` npnf'ardly and rearwardly, blocks secnrecL to the rear ends o't the rails and having recesses into Which the upper ends ot the latches may drop, when the rails are swung upwardly, to prevent e return movement thereof, and means -enga'goable loy the axle ot the truck, as the latter is hacked 1eeneath a load carried on said raisv` to raise the latches out ot 1the rer s and peri-nit the 1ails to swineT torA ely with the load as the truck is driver; forwardly.

l0. ln al load transferring device the conihinati'on ot a carriage having' series et parallel. links pivoted thereto, a pair ot pe-rallel rails supported hy the links to swingT therewith,v means ter latching the rails substantialy in their uppermost position, and wheels supporting the carriage and disposec in planes perpendicular to the planes ot inoveinent et' said links and rails.

n testimony that claini the for Poing as my myn, l have hereto atlixed iny signature.

ABNER F. CALLSON. 

